Welcome To Monday Morning...

I had an interesting morning, something I didn't expect for a Monday. I got up at the usual time, got ready and jumped in my car. I started out on my 20-25 minute commute. Things were going pretty much as they have gone for the last six months.

Then, on a whim, I glanced to my left.

The scene took my breath away.

And I almost missed it.

It's the time of the year when, if there's a beautiful sunrise, we have the opportunity to see it. It seems to me that, more often than not, I am usually at my desk when the sun comes up so I miss the sunrises. It's rare when I get a chance to see a really colorful display. This morning I was lucky enough to see it and snap a few pictures.

It occurred to me as the colors slowly faded, I could have easily just continued driving south and never noticed the sky to the east. I wonder how many drivers missed it. That's an interesting question. Of course, seeing the beautiful sunrise may have had no effect on me or my day, but for those few moments, as I snuck glances to the left (I made sure I was in complete control of my car at all times...), the sky was teasing me as if saying, "Look what you almost missed because you were thinking about something else."

Not a bad way to start a Monday.

Waxing...Or Waning?

He crossed the bridge that spanned the railroad tracks alone. The train was not due for fifteen minutes, but he liked the solitude arriving early affords. Soon others would join him on the platform and they would soon became cogs in the engine of commerce and civilization.

But, as the time was early, a sliver of light rose in the eastern sky, above the mountain range. Was it waxing or waning? He didn't know, but if he crossed the bridge at the same time tomorrow, the moon  would be further east. It might even be hid behind the rocky ridge and his question of the moon's phase would go unanswered. Of course, tomorrow he may be late crossing the bridge resulting in a missed train or a missed assignment.

He sat and waited, wondering what the day would bring. He looked north and saw another cross the bridge. The man descended the final stair and walked the eighty-three steps it took to reach the point where the first train door opens so that passengers can board. Did the new man notice the moon, now closer to being engulfed by the mountain? Did he see the lone rider who arrived before him? Did he care that the first man to cross the bridge still wondered if the moon would show more of the sun's illumination tomorrow or less?

Probably not.

Eventually, commuters and students of all sizes and ages waiting patiently for the huge diesel engines to push (or pull...) the train would be rewarded for the time they spent waiting. The behemoth would slow then eventually stop. The doors would open and the masses would step inside the metal beast with an errant few stepping free after having reached their destination. As the alarms signaled, the doors closed, and the train departed, a solitary figure looked eastward for the sliver of light in the morning sky. It was gone.